Graphic Packaging's folding carton plant, seen here in 2008, and its paperboard mill are located at Paterson and Pitcher streets in Kalamazoo.KALAMAZOO — Graphic Packaging International Inc. announced this week that it plans to close two manufacturing facilities and transition business to other U.S. plants.

The Marietta, Ga.-based company, which operates a paperboard mill and folding-carton plant in the city of Kalamazoo, said it will close two folding-carton plants — in Fort Wayne, Ind., and Santa Clara, Calif. — by mid-2010, according to a company press release.

The press release makes no mention of which of its remaining plants will receive work from the closed plants. Last year, Graphic Packaging completed a $28 million expansion of its North Pitcher Street folding carton plant.

"As one of the world's largest packaging companies, we continue to push aggressively in 2009 to integrate assets from the 2008 combination between Altivity Packaging and Graphic Packaging and streamline operations," said David W. Scheible, president and chief executive officer of Graphic Packaging. "These key closures will complete the plant rationalization element of our integration efforts."

A message left with a company spokeswoman was not immediately returned.

Also, the company today reported third quarter earnings, swinging to a profit of $33 million. That compares to a loss of $14 million in the third quarter 2008.

Graphic Packaging posted sales of $1 billion in the quarter, down 10 percent from the third quarter 2008.

"Our focus on food and beverage and the execution
of our operational plans put in place following the combination with
Altivity have allowed us to perform well in this difficult operating
environment," Scheible said in the company's earning report.